Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated projects worth Rs 16,800crore during the inauguration of an airport at the holy city of Deoghar, some 253km from Jharkhand capital Ranchi on Tuesday evening.

While Modi harped on the “development of the nation by development of the states” as the mantra the country has been working on for the past eight years and announced that the projects will open roads of development for Jharkhand and also benefit several areas of bordering Bihar and Bengal. Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren while welcoming and thanking the Prime Minister for inaugurating and laying foundation stones of the projects, drew parallel of Jharkhand state with “labourers engaged in constructing houses and being forgotten by the house owner (Centre) after completion of building”.

“Development of the nation by development of the states — this is the mantra the country has been working on for the last eight years. In the past eight years be it in highways, railways, airways, waterways we had been trying to improve connectivity with Jharkhand with the same mantra and with the blessing of Baba Baidyanath foundation stones have been laid and inauguration has been done of projects worth over Rs 16,000 crore from this city of spiritual significance. Not only Jharkhand, these projects will also benefit the several areas of Bihar and West Bengal and eastern region in general,” said Modi who arrived at the dais near the Deoghar airport at around 1.15pm.

The Prime Minister also hoped that the projects will boost tourism and ensure ease of living.

“Through the Deoghar airport 8 lakh people will be able to travel from this airport every year as it is one of the sacred religious place. It will also boost business,” stressed Modi during the 13-minute speech.

Earlier, the chief minister termed it as a historic day for Jharkhand and a dream for the Deoghar airport which was seen in 2010 has been fulfilled.

“We are happy that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come to fulfil this dream along with other infrastructure projects for the state,” said Soren.

He then drew parallel to Jharkhand with majdoors (labourers).

““Kisi bhi makan ya building ke banane main majdooron ka bohut bada yogdan hota hai. Par building/makan ban jane ke bad un majdooron ko hum bhul jate hain (Labourers have a big contribution in the construction of a building/house. However, after construction of the building/house these labourers are forgotten. Similarly, Jharkhand has been giving its mineral resources like iron and coal for the development of the country. But has been facing neglect and is still backward),” said Soren, while thanking the Prime Minister for realising the long awaited dream of an airport in Deoghar and dedicating several infrastructure projects for the state.

He stressed that if the Centre cooperates then Jharkhand would be among the leading states in the coming five-seven years.

Significantly, Soren has been writing to the Centre over long pending royalty dues worth Rs 1.36 lakh crore from coal PSUs which he claims to be hampering infrastructure development of the “cash strapped” state.

Apart from the Deoghar airport which has been built at a cost of Rs 401crore and expansion of OPD and inpatient facility at AIIMS in Deoghar at Rs 1,103crore, the other major projects which were inaugurated included LPG gas pipeline between Jagdishpur,Haldia, Bokaro and Dharma (Odisha) and several highways widening projects. A total of Rs 6,565crore projects had their foundation stones laid by the Prime Minister while Rs 10,270crore projects were inaugurated.

Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia who was also present at the ceremony at the Deoghar airport announced soon three more airports would soon be built in Jharkhand at Dumka, Bokaro and Jamshedpur after which 14 air routes will be built in Jharkhand.

At the moment, there is flight service between Deoghar and Calcutta from the newly inaugurated airport.

Later, the Prime Minister went on a roadshow for nearly 12km traversing through Deoghar city to the sacred Baba Dham temple to perform rituals for nearly 20 minutes and thereafter at around 3.30pm addressed a public meeting at the Deoghar College ground before leaving for Patna at around 4.40pm.

At the public meeting, Modi claimed that earlier foundation stones were laid but work was not completed.

“But our government not only lays foundation stones also inaugurates the projects We understand the value of public money and use every single pie of the public for the public,” said Modi.

He also stressed on religious tourism which opens doors of development and earning opportunities for lakhs and said that development activities have been initiated at Baba Vishwanath Dham, Kedarnath Dham, Ayodhya Dham which has led to increase in footfalls at these religious places.

Modi further said that earlier governments were only interested in usurping power and were not bothered about serving people and facilities used to be enjoyed only by few rich people.

“But our government is working with the principle of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas. Nearly 12 lakh poor people of Jharkhand have got pucca houses and similarly thousands have been given LPG. Our government understands the plight of the poor,” said Modi.

Modi at the rally in Deoghar College Ground also took a swipe at freebies announced by the Opposition ruled government in states.

“The country faces a major challenge of short-cut politics, but it is a big truth that the country whose politics is based on short-cut can have short-circuit… It can destroy the country.”

Freebies “won’t deliver new airports or new medical colleges. If you give things for free, then how can you build airports or roads?” questioned Modi.